JPS warns customers
Published:Friday | March 6, 2009 | 5:40 PM
The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) said the industrial action now being taken by some employees has still not begun to affect customers, as its management and other staff have been working to ensure normal operations.
The utility company is however advising customers that if the industrial action continues for an extended period, they could face interruptions in their power supply.
The company said its operations cannot be continued indefinitely in contingency mode.
Since last night, some employees have called in sick, or have not reported for work.
Other employees, while turning up at their respective locations, opted not to carry out normal duties.
The JPS said these employees are mainly from the company’s technical operations and power stations.
The company’s management has written to the Ministry of Labour, seeking its intervention in resolving the current impasse with the unions representing employees.
The Company has reiterated its willingness to accept the option of independent arbitration to resolve the outstanding issues.
The latest dispute surrounds the interpretation of a clause in a wage agreement signed by both parties last year.
The unions representing the workers are demanding the payments of overtime and redundancy monies, which they say have been owed for the period 2001 to 2007.